MESA, Ariz.—Harry Rodriguez surprised his family with tickets to Shen Yun Performing Arts and he was pleased to share that they enjoyed the entire performance.
“I loved it. I got the tickets about a month and a half ago to surprise my family. I wouldn’t tell them where we were going until just yesterday. So, they got all excited, and when they got here, everybody was telling me, oh this is great. So, they loved the dances, they loved the entire show. It was fantastic,” Mr. Rodriguez, a Marine Corp veteran and businessman, said.
“I know a little bit about the Chinese culture, and I know that it was a big difference before communism and then after communism. And so, it’s interesting to learn more as you can see it unfold before your eyes, what it could have been like, what it was like, and now what it’s like today,” Mr. Rodriguez shared.
“It’s sad because I’ve been all over the world. And so, I’m always happy to return to the United States because it’s my home. And to picture someone that can’t go back to their home for whatever reason, I think it’s pretty sad,” he expressed.
The culture presented by Shen Yun is one that kids won’t learn about at school, so Mr. Rodriguez brought his kids to see and learn about what China’s 5,000 years looked like before the Chinese Communist Party took power.“I want them to learn something more than what they have. I want them to learn about other cultures and things that they can take back to school with them, and share,” he said.
To the family members who did not come to see Shen Yun this time, Mr. Rodriguez said, “It’s an eye-opener. You missed out. You should have come. And next time, get some tickets and come on down.”
